Improvement in car-couplings



G. R. HAMILTON... (Jar-Coupling.

No. 212,462. 5 Patented Feb. 18,1879.

WITNESSES INVENTOR p B q A 4 "I g I ATTORNEYS.

"UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFIcri GEORGE E. HAMILTON, OF WAYNESVILLE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT lN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,462., datedFebruary 18, 1879; application filed December 17, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. HAMILTON, of lVaynesville, in the countyof Warren and State of Ohio, have invented a new and ImprovedOar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and easily-operatedcoupling for cars that acts automatically, obviating the necessity ofgoing between the cars to guide the link, and at the same time willreadily uncouple itself in case of an accident occurring. In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows two draw-bars, one in section, theother in elevation, provided with myimprovements; and Fig. 2 is a topview or plan of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A A are the drawbars, having at their frontends broad flat pieces B B, wider than the draw-bars proper, flush withtheir bottom surfaces, and of about one-third their thickness. From thefront of these pieces project upward and backward hooks a, leaving aspace, b, between their faces and the ends of the draw-bar. A shortprojection, c, of the ends of the draw-bar leaves a recess, (1.

0 represents the latch or dog. It is composed of a flat piece of metal,rounded upward at the end, as at c, and provided with a socket, f,underneath to receive the hook a. At the opposite end are two projectingpieces, g g, leaving a recess between them, into which is entered thepiece 0, and a connection is made between this piece and the pieces 9 gby a transverse pivot, h, so that the latch or dog swings freely up anddown. D represents the link for coupling the draw-bars together.

The operation of my improvement is, as follows: The link D is thrustbetween the hook it and the end of latch O, pushing the latter upwardout of the way and sliding over the hook, and when in the space I) thelatch falls down on the hook. It is then pushed back so that the endrests in the recess d, and, bearing against the under side of projectionc, the link is held in a horizontal position, its sides being supportedon the projecting side of the piece B, so that when the car to which itis linked is moved up to couple with another car the free end of thelink is in line with the hook, and, striking it, slides up the inclinedface of the same, pushes the latch 0 up out of the way, and falls overthe hook, thus coupling the cars together. The latches O 0, falling downon the hooks, prevent any slight or sudden jerk from throwing the linksout of connection with the hooks; but in case of the cars fallingthrough a bridge or over an embankment the link will readily slide upthe inner inclined face of the hook, and, moving the latch out of theway, release the falling car, and thus prevent the car that remains onthe track from being dragged over with the one that falls.

The coupling can be made of wrought-iron, and all the parts but thelatch forged from one piece, or cast into one piece, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The combination, with the rigid hook on lower jaw anda link, D, of the rear pivoted latch, 0, having a subjacent cavity toreceive said hook and sides to bear on the link, as shown and described.

GEORGE RIDGE HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

JAMES M. KING, CHARLES C. OLEAVER.

